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Agreement on Palestinian Unity Government Almost Complete

Monday, November 13, 2006

Palestine Center Information Brief No. 145 (13 November 2006)

By Samar Assad

Overview: While no major breakthrough is expected from Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's meeting with U.S. President George W. Bush today, Palestinian officials seem to have made significant progress toward the creation of a unity government. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is expected to receive a complete list of nominees when he arrives in Gaza on Thursday, 16 November. Palestinians hope that the new government will end months of international economic siege and political isolation that has deepened an extremely dire humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip and throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

Nominees

According to Palestinian officials, Hamas and Fateh have agreed on the following professionals as cabinet ministers:

1) Prime Minister: Dr. Mohammed Shubair, currently professor of microbiology at Gaza's Islamic University. From 1993 to September 2006, he was the university's president. Shubar received his Ph.D from West Virginia University, USA. He is a member of the American Academy of Microbiology. He is considered an independent.

2) Foreign Minister: Dr. Ziad Abu Amr, a veteran politician, academic and independent lawmaker. Abu Amr was considered for the job when Hamas first came to power, but differences over Hamas' foreign policy kept him out of the government.

3) Finance Minister: Dr. Salam Fayyad, the former finance minister who was credited with bringing transparency and accountability to the post. He enjoys the trust of the international community on issues of finance and management. Fayyad ran on the Third Way ticket and is considered an independent.

4) Health Ministry: Dr. Mustafa Barghouthi, director of Health, Development, Information and Policy Institute in Ramallah. His Union of Medical Relief Committees is a long-time provider of healthcare in rural areas. He lost to Abbas during the presidential election in 1995 and won a seat in the legislative council in 1996.

5) Prisoners File: Ms. Khalida Jarrar, a former lawyer at the Mandela Institute for Prisoners Rights in Ramallah. She is a member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.

The education minister is expected to be from Hamas, while Fateh will take eight cabinet posts.

International Economic Sanctions

During a meeting of Arab Foreign Ministers over the weekend, the Arab League announced that it will resume economic aid to the Palestinian Authority (PA). The Europeans have pledged to resume aid, and Egypt has promised the PA that it will secure a similar pledge from the United States.

Point of Contention

Despite the progress, one post remains in dispute. There is no agreement on who will take over the powerful Interior Ministry, which controls the Palestinian security forces.

Samar Assad is Executive Director of the Palestine Center. This information brief may be used without permission but with proper attribution to the Center. The above text does not necessarily reflect the views of The Jerusalem Fund.

Agreement on Palestinian Unity Government Almost Complete

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